Successful use of the diaphragm and jelly by a young population: report of a clinical study.

In the largest contemporary study of diaphragm use in the United States, the authors examine the experience of 2,168 women who selected this method of contraception at the Margaret Sanger Research Bureau over a recent two-year period. Eight in 10 of the study group were younger than 30 years and three in 10 were aged 21-24. Seven in 10 had never been married and the same proportion had never been pregnant. Accidental pregnancies in the first 12 months of use ranged from a low of 1.9 per 100 users younger than 18 years old to a high of 3.0 among 30-34-year-olds; and more than eight in 10 were still using the diaphragm at the year's end. These rates compare favorably with those reported for the pill and IUD in other clinical studies.